-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

===========================================================================
             AUSCERT External Security Bulletin Redistribution

     ESB-2001.506 -- Macromedia Product Security Bulletin (MPSB01-11)
  CFEXECUTE tag should be disabled when using ColdFusion Sandbox Security
                             29 November 2001

===========================================================================

        AusCERT Security Bulletin Summary
        ---------------------------------

Product:                ColdFusion 4.5 Enterprise Edition
                        ColdFusion 5 Enterprise Edition
Vendor:                 Macromedia
Operating System:       Windows
Impact:                 Administrator Compromise
Access Required:        Existing Account

- --------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT--------------------

Macromedia Product Security Bulletin (MPSB01-11)

The CFEXECUTE tag should be disabled when using ColdFusion Sandbox Security
(Operating System type) on Windows. 

Originally Posted: November 27, 2001 
Last Updated: November 27, 2001 


Summary

When ColdFusion Advanced Security Sandbox (type=Operating System) is
configured, processes created with <CFEXECUTE> do not inherit the Sandbox
security context. Instead <CFEXECUTE> executes with the security context of
the ColdFusion Service. This is the "System" account by default.

Web Hosting providers, particularly, are advised to disable the <CFEXECUTE>
tag if they rely on Sandbox Security to restrict users' access based on
Windows NT Domain accounts.

User-written programs which can be executed via <CFOBJECT> or user-written CFX
extensions may be vulnerable if they call the Windows CreateProcess()
function. Developers should be aware that this function can allow users to
escape the confines of Sandbox security.  The <CFOBJECT> tag can also be
disabled in ColdFusion Administrator.


Issue

The Windows CreateProcess() function, which is used by <CFEXECUTE>, does not
retain the "impersonation token" used to implement OS type Sandbox Security

Please reference the following Microsoft article:

    Q111545 - Security Context of Child Processes
    (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q111/5/45.asp)


Affected Software Versions

    ColdFusion 4.5 Enterprise Edition on Windows 
    ColdFusion 5 Enterprise Edition on Windows 


What Macromedia is Doing 

Macromedia has published this bulletin, notifying customers of the problem 


What Customers Should Do

We encourage customers who use Security Sandbox to consider disabling the
<CFEXECUTE> tag, and to review any user-written software accessed via the
<CFOBJECT> as well as their installed CFX extensions.

Please note: As always, customers should test changes in a testing environment
before modifying production servers.


Revisions 
November 27, 2001 -- Bulletin first created. 

Reporting Security Issues Macromedia is committed to addressing security
issues and providing customers with the information on how they can protect
themselves. If you identify what you believe may be a security issue with a
Macromedia product, please send an email to secure@allaire.com. We will work
to appropriately address and communicate the issue.

Receiving Security Bulletins When Macromedia becomes aware of a security issue
that we believe significantly affects our products or customers, we will
notify customers when appropriate. Typically this notification will be in the
form of a security bulletin explaining the issue and the response. Macromedia
customers who would like to receive notification of new security bulletins
when they are released can sign up for our security notification service.

For additional information on security issues at Macromedia, please visit the
Security Zone at: http://www.allaire.com/security . 

ANY INFORMATION, PATCHES, DOWNLOADS, WORKAROUNDS OR FIXES PROVIDED BY
MACROMEDIA IN THIS BULLETIN IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
MACROMEDIA AND ITS SUPPLIERS DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ALSO, THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF NON-INFRINGEMENT,
TITLE OR QUIET ENJOYMENT. (USA ONLY) SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

IN NO EVENT SHALL MACROMEDIA, INC. OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, COVER, LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS
INTERRUPTION OR THE LIKE, OR LOSS OF BUSINESS DAMAGES, BASED ON ANY THEORY OF
LIABILITY INCLUDING BREACH OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF WARRANTY, TORT(INCLUDING
NEGLIGENCE), PRODUCT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF MACROMEDIA, INC. OR ITS
SUPPLIERS OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.  (USA ONLY) SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS
THAT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

Macromedia reserves the right, from time to time, to update the information in
this document with current information.

- --------------------------END INCLUDED TEXT--------------------

You have received this e-mail bulletin as a result of your organisation's
registration with AusCERT. The mailing list you are subscribed to is
maintained within your organisation, so if you do not wish to continue
receiving these bulletins you should contact your local IT manager. If
you do not know who that is, please send an email to auscert@auscert.org.au
and we will forward your request to the appropriate person.

This security bulletin is provided as a service to AusCERT's members.  As
AusCERT did not write the document quoted above, AusCERT has had no control
over its content.  The decision to use any or all of this information is
the responsibility of each user or organisation, and should be done so in
accordance with site policies and procedures.

NOTE: This is only the original release of the security bulletin.  It may
not be updated when updates to the original are made.  If downloading at
a later date, it is recommended that the bulletin is retrieved directly
from the original authors to ensure that the information is still current.

Contact information for the authors of the original document is included
in the Security Bulletin above.  If you have any questions or need further
information, please contact them directly.

Previous advisories and external security bulletins can be retrieved from:

	http://www.auscert.org.au/Information/advisories.html

If you believe that your system has been compromised, contact AusCERT or
your representative in FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security
Teams).

Internet Email: auscert@auscert.org.au
Facsimile:	(07) 3365 7031
Telephone:	(07) 3365 4417 (International: +61 7 3365 4417)
		AusCERT personnel answer during Queensland business hours
		which are GMT+10:00 (AEST).
		On call after hours for emergencies.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.3i
Charset: noconv
Comment: ftp://ftp.auscert.org.au/pub/auscert/AUSCERT_PGP.key

iQCVAwUBPAZsIyh9+71yA2DNAQFKKQP/aEMgCr+mTMp09Ja/O4yvhZSISk286d4t
aud2FnzQnwxh32C65L0Kdv2+JwPE8Ie/crxwOn9b85w/a82zeaTUuvJqvN9uQs4m
ZNJ0nDT9fPG8DLwGQ2iGKEZiodARVWUz3+iGOBIr+bBooqu/iv45u7fK99DbUEp+
1QP7I/vDQn4=
=aV6Z
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----